Queen City Hoops Your unofficial source for news and opinion on the Charlotte Bobcats http://www.queencityhoops.com Charlotte vs Washington PreviewWho: Charlotte Bobcats vs Washington Wizards
What: NBA Basketball - Bobcats Home Game
When: 02/09/2010
Where: Live at Time Warner Cable Arena in the Queen City or on WFNZ-AM 610

The Matchup:
RecordOffensive
Efficiency		Defensive
Efficiency		Pace
Charlotte24-25103.6 (23)101.7 (3)91.3 (28)
Washington17-32103.6 (22)107.9 (22)93.5 (15)

Previous Meetings:
11/28/2009 - 92-76 CLT - Recap - Boxscore

Injuries:
Charlotte: Raymond Felton - Game time decision (ankle)
Washington: None


Starting Lineups
BobcatsWizards
PGRaymond FeltonRandy Foye
SGStephen JacksonMike Miller
SFGerald WallaceCaron Butler
PFBoris DiawAntawn Jamison
CNazr MohammedBrendan Haywood


Click here to comment/view comments for this post.

]]> http://www.queencityhoops.com/GamePreview020910.php Tue, 9 Feb 2010 11:00:00 EST Emeka wins on Homecoming SaturdayBoxscore
Score: 104-99 New Orleans Hornets
Charlotte Bobcats record: 24-25
Offensive Efficiency: 111.2
Defensive Efficiency: 116.9
Meritorious Player: Nazr Mohammed, as he played Emeka Okafor to a virtual standstill. Nazr finished with 15 points on 7 of 9 shooting, 5 rebounds, and a block in his 25 minutes. Emeka, for comparison had 16 on 10 attempts, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 32 minutes.

The Bobcats came out for the second half like they had enjoyed a nice turkey dinner at half time: Sluggish and lazy. It led to a 36-21 advantage in the quarter for the Hornets, turning a 10 points Bobcats lead into the final 5 point margin the Bobcats would enjoy at the conclusion of the contest. Those 36 third quarter points came on just 24 possessions for the Hornets, an efficiency of 150 - and while it felt like it was fueled by a rash of Bobcats turnovers, the Cats only had 4 in the quarter, right around their pace for the game, finishing with 11 as a team.

Oh, and since I mentioned turnovers, might as well mention the other negative in that pair: Free throws. The Bobcats managed just 18 of 27 from the stripe for the game, negating an advantage of 6 additional free throw attempts on the Hornets by making 1 fewer. The primary culprit - Ronald Murray, who managed to go 0-5, including 4 straight misses in about 4 minutes time late in the fourth. One other free throw note: Boris Diaw went to the line 6 times on the night, making all 6. Also, all 6 were in the first half, when Diaw was aggressive in going to the rim. Boris looked like one of the primary victims of tryptophan in the second half, as he passed up open looks and dribbled into the defense without looking at the rim.

The Bobcats fall a game back under .500, so that is the bad news. The good news? They are off until Tuesday, giving them some time to recuperate from the road trip...and Tyson Chandler is hoping to play Tuesday night as well.

Click here to comment/view comments for this post.

]]> http://www.queencityhoops.com/GameRecap020610.php Sat, 6 Feb 2010 22:00:00 EST Charlotte vs New Orleans PreviewWho: Charlotte Bobcats vs New Orleans Hornets
What: NBA Basketball - Bobcats Home Game
When: 02/06/2010 at 7pm EST
Where: Live at Time Warner Cable Arena in the Queen City or on SportsSouth

The Matchup:
RecordOffensive
Efficiency		Defensive
Efficiency		Pace
Charlotte24-24103.4 (23)101.4 (2)91.3 (28)
New Orleans26-24105.7 (16)107.3 (19)93.1 (20)

Previous Meetings:
NONE

Injuries:
Charlotte: Tyson Chandler - Unlikely; Gerald Wallace - Likely
New Orleans: Chris Paul - OUT


Starting Lineups
BobcatsHornets
PGRaymond FeltonDarren Collison
SGStephen JacksonMarcus Thornton
SFGerald WallacePeja+Stojakovic
PFBoris DiawDavid West
CNazr MohammedEmeka Okafor


Click here to comment/view comments for this post.

]]> http://www.queencityhoops.com/GamePreview020610.php Sat, 6 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST You mean Gerald isn't better than LeBron?When Matt Moore did a behemoth of a post a couple weeks back on player usage and PER for every team in the league, I got this nagging feeling, like there was something I was supposed to have done. But what was it? I had paid all my bills for the month, I had brushed my teeth, and I had even remembered to bump the thermostat down for the night. And then it hit me: I was supposed to have done something with the player swap tool I created back in the off-season. Sometime. Something. I had never really decided on what was the first improvement I wanted to make or when I should get around to it. But Moore's terrific post got me motivated (and the upcoming trade deadline was another slight push) – and provided the inspiration for the focus of the change.

Efficiency and usage are the key (and practically only) components of the player swap tool. I created it to crudely calculate how the potential addition of Allen Iverson might have impacted the Bobcats performance and then to calculate the impact of the actual addition of Tyson Chandler/subtraction of Emeka Okafor. It's purpose and design were simple: If one player uses this many possessions at this efficiency, how will the team's numbers change if a new player with a different usage and efficiency comes in? And for an off-the-cuff number, it did ok – it reasonably reflected the difference in how the Bobcats played with D.J. Augustin on the court for Raymond Felton and it came close to calculating how Orlando slid a bit with Rafer Alston coming in to replace Jameer Nelson. But...

It is kind of a big but – it thinks the Bobcats would be worse with LeBron James than Gerald Wallace this season. And as big of a Crash fan as I am, that is preposterous. Now, it is not the tool's fault: It just does not know any better. It was designed to say that if a new player comes in, the rest of the team will continue to perform at the same efficiency they have previously. But when you add a player like LeBron James, things are a little different – for one, he uses about 15 more possessions per 100 team possessions than Gerald. All of a sudden the rest of the Bobcats are responsible for splitting just 65 possessions, instead of 80 – hmm, wonder if that may make their jobs a little bit easier?

No surprises: It does. A great example is Raymond Felton's performance from last year to this year. Last season, his usage ([fga+0.4*fta+turnovers]/100 team possessions) was 24.7 and his efficiency on those possessions (points per 100 possessions used) was just 82.0. This year, with the addition of Stephen Jackson, Ray's usage is down to 20.7 and his efficiency up to 95.0. Looking across the league, this relationship holds true – as usage goes up, efficiency goes down. This is not to say that high usage players are the lowest efficiency players – that is not the case. No, what I mean is that as an individual player is called on to shoulder an increased burden, his efficiency drops. The chart below shows the usage versus efficiency on a per game basis for every player who played at least 8 minutes in a given game.

NBA Usage vs Efficiency

Because it is a big blob of dots and a bit incomprehensible (there are over 11,000 data points in there) – I have the line of best fit displayed, along with its equation, indicating the negative relation between the two.

So, now, thanks to Moore's indirect motivation, the player swap tool estimates the impact of shifting responsibilities on efficiencies – a team's and a player's. If you replace LeBron with Gerald, the rest of Cleveland has some heavier lifting to do, including Gerald. Both of their efficiencies are expected to go down. However, if you place LeBron in Charlotte (or New York or whatever other fantasy fans may have), is he really going to subjugate his game? I'd be surprised – so, his usage will not change in the new tool. The change in usage and efficiency is only done against the rest of Charlotte. A similar but opposite effect is seen when moving a player like Ben Wallace: If Ben Wallace leaves Detroit to go help the Nuggets win the West, is he going to take on a larger offensive load? Doubtful – again, his usage and efficiency are predicted to stay static, while the acquiring team would see their usage go up, and their efficiency drop proportionally. The cutoffs for those kind of decisions are based on the top 10% and the bottom 20% in usage – guys who use possessions like a primary option are expected to maintain it, while guys who are currently the 6th option of the 5 men on the court remain that way (not a typo – an exaggeration – just to head off the comments).

With those changes made, sanity is restored – LeBron James coming to Charlotte in place of Gerald Wallace makes the Bobcats better. How much better? Go to the improved Player Swap Tool and find out – there is a bit less clutter on the page and a nice summary of the projected outcome. And if you want to compare the new results to the old – I still have the old tool available here: Original Player Swap Tool

(Oh, and if you see a result that makes you scratch your head, please say so – I have done a lot of testing...but bugs may have snuck through).

Click here to comment/view comments for this post.

]]> http://www.queencityhoops.com/IntroducingSwapAgain.php Thu, 4 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST Visual Breakdown of the Bobcats BreakdownI talked about it, but Sebastian out-did me and illustrates it: How the Bobcats let the Lakers off the hook. Over at NBAPlaybook.com, Sebastian diagrams the Lakers final offensive set, where Pau Gasol backs down Nazr Mohammed for an easy hook - then he points out all the little mistakes that cost the Bobcats a chance for the tie. For an inbounds play coming out of a timeout, there were a few. Go over and check it out - well worth your time. In fact, while you are there, you should go ahead and either bookmark the site or subscribe - whichever way you keep up with the internets, you will want to add it.

Click here to comment/view comments for this post.

]]> http://www.queencityhoops.com/BobcatsBreakdownPB.php Thu, 4 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST Bobcats hand victory to the LakersBoxscore
Score: 99-97 Los Angeles Lakers
Charlotte Bobcats record: 24-24
Offensive Efficiency: 115.5
Defensive Efficiency: 116.5
Meritorious Player: Nazr Mohammed - with Gerald Wallace out of the game, the Bobcats needed someone to step up and replace Gerald's effort on the boards. And did Nazr ever step up: 23 points on 15 attempts, 17 rebounds, including 9 offensive, 1 block, and solid defense on Pau Gasol/Andrew Bynum as they finished with 31 combined points on 27 attempts.

Down 3 with under 10 seconds left, coming out of a timeout, the Bobcats have a chance to cut the lead or tie. They choose option 3 - a poor pass from Stephen Jackson to Raymond Felton is batted loose, the Lakers recover, and a fast break dunk later the game is over. Yes, Ronald Murray made a 30-footer with over a second left to cut it to 2 for the final margin - but the rest of the Bobcats were discouraged enough from the previous play that they did not even find a man to pressure on the final inbounds play and the Lakers were free to ride out the final second. It was a frustrating end to a game the Bobcats competed hard in and one where there were a lot of positives.

Aside from Nazr's strong play, Stephen Jackson also took charge - 30 points on 10 of 16 from the floor, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Oh, and he helped hold (along with Stephen Graham) Kobe Bryant to just 5 points on 2-12 shooting - you know, no big deal, just the Lakers all-time leading scorer held to single-figures. Jackson recognized the Bobcats were short-handed and forced the action to a degree, and I have to admit that I was not always thrilled when the ball left his hand with the shot he decided to take - but he made most of them and the Bobcats needed for someone to be the aggressor. The other positive that I want to make sure I mention: DeSagana Diop came in and played very well defensively for the Bobcats, with 7 rebounds in just 19 minutes and some active defense in the post. He had just 2 points, two missed free throws, 1 assist and a turnover to show offensively, but against the Lakers big front court, Diop held his own.

Boris Diaw, on the other hand, just seemed ready for the road trip to be over. He picked up 2 quick fouls in the first half, another in the third, and only finally started getting into the game in the 4th, with a couple of offensive rebounds and assists. His final line: 0-4 from the field, 0-2 from the free throw line, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 block, and 1 turnover. He put the Bobcats in a tough spot with the early fouls, forcing them to use Derrick Brown for extended stretches on Pau Gasol - Derrick to his credit did a solid job, but that is not a matchup the Bobcats wanted to see a lot of, since Pau can look down at the top of Derrick's head.

With the Bobcats already down 3, the final turnover was not what handed the game to the Lakers - that just sealed it. What did the Bobcats in was their close to the third quarter: They had two turnovers in the final two minutes that fueled a 6-0 Lakers run that took it from a 1 point game to 7 point margin. While the Bobcats managed to tie it back up in the 4th, they ran out of gas once the game was even and the Lakers ran off 8 straight again. In the 4th, the Lakers scored 27 points on just 20 possessions - an efficiency of 135: The Bobcats were done defensively, the result of being short-handed against a top-tier opponent at the end of a 6-game road trip. Their 14 turnovers were just enough to give the Lakers the edge they needed to seal the deal.

When the Bobcats left on this road trip, 3-3 seemed rather unlikely - now, it is disappointing? It is bound to be, because expectations can change as circumstances do. But it does not make their accomplishment less impressive - they remain at .500 and bring their road record a couple steps closer to respectability.

Click here to comment/view comments for this post.

]]> http://www.queencityhoops.com/GameRecap020310.php Thu, 4 Feb 2010 07:00:00 EST I am a link manager - 02/03/10Is a new owner forthcoming for the Bobcats? Ric Bucher reports that an offer has been made and now it comes down to whether Michael Jordan wants to match it:
Former Houston Rockets president/CEO George Postolos -- whose first attempt to purchase the team, according to the Charlotte Observer, fell apart last summer -- has made a new offer that Bobcats president Michael Jordan has until the end of February to match, according to sources.
-Bucher at ESPN.com
A bit of disappointing news: Alexis Ajinca promising play is going on a break, as he has torn a ligament in his thumb and will undergo surgery:
A torn ligament in Charlotte Bobcat Alexis Ajinca's right thumb will put him out for more than six weeks.

Ajinca, a French 7-footer and former first-round pick, has been with the Maine Red Claws of the NBA's Development League since late December. He hurt his thumb Jan. 27 in a D-League game against the Idaho Stampede.
-Rick Bonnell the Charlotte Observer


Click here to comment/view comments for this post.

]]> http://www.queencityhoops.com/Links020310.php Wed, 3 Feb 2010 12:30:00 EST Los Angeles Lakers vs Charlotte PreviewWho: Los Angeles Lakers vs Charlotte Bobcats
What: NBA Basketball - Lakers Home Game
When: 02/04/2010 at 10:30pm EST
Where: Live at the Staples Center in LA or on SportsSouth

The Matchup:
RecordOffensive
Efficiency		Defensive
Efficiency		Pace
Los Angeles Lakers36-12108.1 (10)101.2 (3)94.8 (8)
Charlotte24-23103.2 (23)101.1 (2)91.5 (27)

Previous Meetings:
NONE

Injuries:
Los Angeles Lakers: None
Charlotte: Tyson Chandler - Still out? I have not seen a recent update on his status


Starting Lineups
Bobcats
PGDerek FisherRaymond Felton
SGKobe BryantStephen Jackson
SFRon ArtestGerald Wallace
PFPau GasolBoris Diaw
CAndrew BynumNazr Mohammed

Here is a pretty concise summary of the Bobcats' success against the Lakers, presented in a conversation between my wife and myself last night:
Her: "So, the Bobcats next game is tomorrow, right? Who are they playing?"
Me: "Yes and the Lakers."
Her: "Oh, then the Bobcats will probably lose?"
Me: "Actually, they have won 6 of their last 7 against the Lakers."
Her: "So, they have Kobe and not much else?"
Me: "No, they won the title last year and were in the finals the year before as well. They are very good."
Her: "How do the Bobcats do so well against them, then?"

Click here to comment/view comments for this post.

]]> http://www.queencityhoops.com/GamePreview020310.php Wed, 3 Feb 2010 12:30:00 EST Portland thumps lagging BobcatsBoxscore
Score: 98-79 Portland
Charlotte Bobcats record: 24-23
Offensive Efficiency: 91.9
Defensive Efficiency: 115.3
Meritorious Player: Gerald Wallace had another double-double with 17 points on 10 attempts and 10 rebounds, including 7 defensive. Crash also had 2 steals, 1 assist, and 2 turnovers.

For a team that was supposedly not satisfied with just breaking even on the road-trip, the Bobcats sure played like a team that would be satisfied breaking even on their road trip. 21 turnovers on just 87 possessions. 13 offensive rebounds for Portland to just 21 defensive rebounds for the Bobcats - that defensive rebound rate of 61.8% is their 3rd worst performance of the season. The turnover rate of 24.4% is the second worst such showing. And the final telling number: 23 triple attempts out of 64 total. That is 35.8% of their attempts being from deep - the highest that number has been all season. Oh, and it was not a case of them launching them late, in a furious bid to rally - the Bobcats attempted just 3 in the final quarter.

Final thing I am going to mention: The Bobcats had a strange sequence to end the first half. I am not sure if they just recently learned of trying to get a 2-for-1 possession advantage at the end of a quarter or what - but it sure seemed like it. After the Blazers scored with 38 seconds left, Raymond Felton pushed the ball up court, curled around a screen near the top of the lane and fired up a running, leaning jumper from 20 feet just seconds into the shot clock - it did not go in and the Blazers rebounded with 29 seconds left. After working the ball around, Martell Webster missed a look from three as the shot clock ran down - and Portland got the offensive rebound that the Bobcats had been looking for with about 5 seconds left. Fortunately for the Bobcats, Ronald Murray was able to pick off Andre Miller's pass and the Bobcats were able to get off another attempt to complete the 2-for-1 - this time the shot came about mid-court as the horn sounded. It also missed. To recap: Rather than 1 good shot, the Bobcats managed to take 2 bad shots in the final 30 seconds - and only got the second one because of a bad pass by the other team. That kind of defeats the purpose of going for the 2-for-1.

Click here to comment/view comments for this post.

]]> http://www.queencityhoops.com/GameRecap020110.php Tue, 2 Feb 2010 07:00:00 EST I am a link manager - 02/01/10Frank Hughes at SI.com says Gerald Wallace finally gets due recognition:
You could make the argument that there has not been an All-Star like Charlotte's Gerald Wallace in the last 20 years. And not because he is the first Bobcats player in franchise history to make the team.

Think about it: In the past two decades, how many players have created a balanced resume -- one solid enough to garner an All-Star nod -- out of scrappiness and hustle? By my count: zero.
Mark Travis at ButTheGameIsOn.com talks about how Stephen Jackson has helped the Bobcats win - Stephen Jackson has helped shape the Bobcats as a contender:
After struggling to fit in during his first few games, Jackson has come on in the past two months of play, scoring 22 points a game on 43% shooting with five boards and three assists a contest. Jackson is still susceptible to having off nights shooting the ball, but he has become a nice fit within the offense, getting to the basket to finish at the rim when his shot isn't falling.
Rick Bonnell at the Charlotte Observer reports: Larry Brown is the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month. More on that available at NBA.com - LB named EC coach of the month.

Click here to comment/view comments for this post.

]]> http://www.queencityhoops.com/Links020110.php Mon, 1 Feb 2010 17:30:00 EST Portland vs Charlotte PreviewWho: Portland Trail Blazers vs Charlotte Bobcats
What: NBA Basketball - Trail Blazers Home Game
When: 02/01/2010 at 10pm EST
Where: Live at the Rose Garden in Portland, OR or on SportsSouth

The Matchup:
RecordOffensive
Efficiency		Defensive
Efficiency		Pace
Portland27-20109.1 (6)106.0 (17)88.7 (30)
Charlotte24-22103.4 (23)100.9 (2)91.6 (27)

Previous Meetings:
11/14/2009 - 80-74 Portland - Recap - Boxscore

Injuries:
Portland: Brandon Roy - OUT; Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla - OUT
Charlotte: Tyson Chandler - Out until he practices?


Starting Lineups
Trail BlazersBobcats
PGAndre MillerRaymond Felton
SGJerryd BaylessStephen Jackson
SFMartell WebsterGerald Wallace
PFLaMarcus AldridgeBoris Diaw
CJuwan HowardNazr Mohammed


Click here to comment/view comments for this post.

]]> http://www.queencityhoops.com/GamePreview020110.php Mon, 1 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST Bobcats hang on against Kings (again)Boxscore
Score: 103-96 Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats record: 24-22
Offensive Efficiency: 109.6
Defensive Efficiency: 100.0
Meritorious Player: Gerald Wallace continues his strong road trip with 38 points on just 18 field goal attempts, making 12 and going 12 of 15 from the charity stripe. Crash had another double-double on the night, finishing with 11 rebounds. In the other positives, he had a trio of 2s - 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. The 2 blocks were probably most key, as they came late in the 4th quarter, as the Kings were threatening.

This time it was not Tyreke Evans who carried the Sacramento Kings back into the game - it was the Charlotte Bobcats. The Cats missed 13 straight shots from the floor between the 11 minute mark and the 3 minute mark of the 4th quarter - and scored just 5 points in the 4th up unto the 3 minute mark. It was just ugly basketball, with turnovers and forced jumpers everywhere. Eventually, Larry Brown was reduced to guiding Raymond Felton with this advice as he advanced the ball up the court: "Just get a good shot."

To be fair to the Bobcats, they had expended a great deal of energy in opening the massive lead they attempted to give away - after leading by just 2 at the half, the lead ballooned to 23 going into the fourth. The Bobcats appeared to have forgotten the run Kings made in Charlotte and played sloppy, lazy basketball until the Kings had narrowed it to a 6-point game with less than 2 minutes to play. While the Cats did not put a strangle hold on the game at that point, they did enough to win - making enough free throws and forcing enough tough shots to walk out the victors. But it was not easy.

Well, it was not easy for the guys who played in the 4th anyway - Nazr Mohammed was not one of them, and the game was easy for him tonight: 17 points on 8 of 10 from the floor and 10 rebounds in his 25 minutes of action. While Nazr was on the floor, the Bobcats were +11, and had efficiencies of 118.8 and 95.8. Due to the lineups the Kings employed in the final quarter, Larry Brown kept Nazr beside him on the bench - and the easy points that Nazr had been tossing in from in and around the paint dried up. I know Jason Thompson may have been a tough cover for Nazr - but Nazr would have been a tough cover for Jason at the other end as well.

Two of the guys who really did not have an easy go of it tonight? Raymond Felton and Stephen Jackson, who were both doing the things that their critics like to point out. Ray was driving to the rim too aggressively and finding himself without an outlet or a makeable shot, and finished with just 6 points on 3 of 14 shooting plus 3 turnovers to his 3 assists. The play by play only credits Spencer Hawes with blocks on Raymond (2 of the them), but I know Jason Thompson helped Raymond miss a couple more underneath. As for Stephen Jackson - too many contested jumpers, as he finished 5 of 19 from the floor. Jax did take on the distributor role, and ended the game with 8 dimes, so it was not all for naught. Oh, and a similar point for Raymond: He helped hold Tyreke Evans to just 4 points and 7 assists.

It may not have been as satisfying a win as it looked to be for a few minutes, but it counts the same.

Click here to comment/view comments for this post.

]]> http://www.queencityhoops.com/GameRecap013010.php Sun, 31 Jan 2010 01:00:00 EST Sacramento vs Charlotte PreviewWho: Sacramento Kings vs Charlotte Bobcats
What: NBA Basketball - Kings Home Game
When: 01/30/2010 at 10pm EST
Where: Live at Arco Arena in Sacramento, CA or on SportsSouthN

The Matchup:
RecordOffensive
Efficiency		Defensive
Efficiency		Pace
Sacramento16-29104.4 (20)108.7 (25)95.9 (6)
Charlotte23-22103.3 (23)100.9 (2)91.5 (27)

Previous Meetings:
01/18/10 - 105-103 CLT - Recap - Boxscore

Injuries:
Sacramento: None
Charlotte: Tyson Chandler - OUT


Starting Lineups
KingsBobcats
PGTyreke EvansRaymond Felton
SGKevin MartinStephen Jackson
SFDonte GreeneGerald Wallace
PFJason ThompsonBoris Diaw
CSpencer HawesNazr Mohammed


Click here to comment/view comments for this post.

]]> http://www.queencityhoops.com/GamePreview013010.php Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST Bobcats maul Warriors 121-110Boxscore
Score: 121-110 Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats record: 23-22
Offensive Efficiency: 121.0
Defensive Efficiency: 110.0
Meritorious Players: Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson - both players finished with 30 points in the high-scoring, fast-paced affair. Gerald Wallace also contributed 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and a block, while Stephen Jackson managed 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Both scored efficiently, as Crash went 8 of 16 from the floor and 13 of 16 from the free throw line, and Jax was 12 of 22 and 3 of 4.

I was kind of nervous about last night's game - it was a game the Bobcats should win, but the extenuating circumstances made things a bit more complicated. How would Stephen Jackson react to the harsh treatment he would receive from his former fans? Positively, by attacking smartly offensively and playing sound defense? Or by forcing shots and driving recklessly, creating turnovers? Good news for Charlotte: Captain Jack controlled his emotions and the basketball game in the second half, with hot-shooting from the perimeter and some nice post work against the under-sized Warriors back-court. His defensive work on Monta Ellis was also good, as it took Ellis 23 shots to get 22 points (to be fair, Monta helped defend himself somewhat with some questionable shots).

On the whole, it was not a great defensive performance by the Bobcats, as Stephen Curry and Corey Maggette both had very strong showings: Curry finished with 22 points on 15 attempts, plus 9 assists to a single turnover. Maggette did what he does so well: He went to the line frequently in the first half and finished 7 of 9 from the stripe on his way to 25 points on just 16 field goal attempts. The only other Warrior to crack double figures in scoring was Anthony Tolliver, who went 5 of 7 for his 13 points.

The most unusual thing about the defensive effort for the Bobcats was the lack of turnovers forced: In a 100 possession game, they managed to create just 9 turnovers by the Warriors. Offensively, the Bobcats were right around their average with 16. With Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis both able to act as point guards, the Bobcats usual traps and ball pressure just was not able to force its normal miscues.

The player who most enjoyed the Warriors small-backcourt? Ronald Murray, who bulled his way to 10 free throw attempts in just over 25 minutes of action. Despite struggling from the floor at 2 of 6 shooting, he made 8 of those freebies to finish with 12 points. 3 more Bobcats finished in double figures: Raymond Felton with 14 on 10 attempts, D.J. Augustin with 14 on 7 attempts (3 of 5 from deep), and Boris Diaw with 12 on 12 attempts, who went just 3 of 8 from inside the arc but 2 of 4 from beyond.

A few more numbers: 5 Bobcats had at least 3 assists as the team finished with 25 on the game, led by D.J. and Raymond at 6 a piece. The Bobcats also dominated the glass with a 48 to 32 advantage, including a 12 to 8 advantage on the offensive end. In addition to Gerald's strong showing, Nazr Mohammed grabbed 10 in just over 16 minutes, and then Boris was the next leader at 6.

A good win for the Bobcats, moving them to 2-1 on the road trip. They follow up in Sacramento tonight, and the concern now is the 40+ minutes logged by both Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson. A .500 road trip is within reach - should be an interesting one following up on the tough game played in Charlotte so recently (hopefully, slowing down Tyreke Evans has garnered some discussion).

Click here to comment/view comments for this post.

]]> http://www.queencityhoops.com/GameRecap012910.php Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:00:00 EST Golden State vs Charlotte PreviewWho: Golden State Warriors vs Charlotte Bobcats
What: NBA Basketball - Warriors Home Game
When: 01/29/2010 at 10:30pm EST
Where: Live at Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA or on SportsSouth

The Matchup:
RecordOffensive
Efficiency		Defensive
Efficiency		Pace
Golden State13-30105.2 (18)108.4 (23)102.1 (1)
Charlotte22-22102.8 (25)100.7 (2)91.3 (28)

Previous Meetings:
NONE

Injuries:
Golden State: Raja Bell - OUT; Anthony Morrow - OUT
Charlotte: Tyson Chandler - OUT (but getting close to returning)


Starting Lineups
WarriorsBobcats
PGStephen CurryRaymond Felton
SGMonta EllisStephen Jackson
SFCorey MaggetteGerald Wallace
PFVladimir RadmanovicBoris Diaw
CAndris BiedrinsNazr Mohammed


Click here to comment/view comments for this post.

]]> http://www.queencityhoops.com/GamePreview012910.php Fri, 29 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST